Cancer Diagnosis
On June 14, 2008 it was announced that Shaun was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer, and as a result of his treatment, he has lost all of his hair, weighs two stones lighter and is four inches shorter from 6'5" to 6'1".
Despite his illness, he still managed to play in the 2009 BDO World Darts Championship, having earned enough ranking points to claim one of the automatic spots for the events. He was soundly beaten in the first round 3-0 by John Walton, but his mere presence under such difficult circumstances showed great bravery and generated praise from fellow players and fans. He emotionally left the Lakeside stage to a guard of honour made up of the rest of the players in the tournament male and female, as well as officials, referees and former finalist Dave Whitcombe who had come to the event solely for Shaun.
Read more about this topic: Shaun Greatbatch
Famous quotes containing the word cancer:
“I’m beginning to believe that Killer Illiteracy ought to rank near heart disease and cancer as one of the leading causes of death among Americans. What you don’t know can indeed hurt you, and so those who can neither read nor write lead miserable lives, like Richard Wright’s character, Bigger Thomas, born dead with no past or future.”
—Ishmael Reed (b. 1938)